Dublin

Dublin, a maritime county in the province of Leinster, Ireland, and containing the metropolis of that country; bounded, N. by Meath, E. by the Irish Sea, S. by Wicklow, and W. by Kildare and Meath. It is the smallest but two of the Irish counties, having an area of 354 sq. m., of which $\backslash frac\{2\}\{3\}$ths are arable, and $\backslash frac\{1\}\{4\}$th in wood. The coast, from its indentations with creeks and bays, is 70 miles long, and off it lie several islands. Dublin Bay, one of the finest in the kingdom, is 6 miles broad, with a sweep of 16 miles, and is generally deep. There are precipitous hills, about 500 feet high, both at the north and south ends; and the bay is remarkably picturesque. The coast of Dublin is practically undefended by fortifications. The surface of the country inland is mostly a level rich plain, with slight undulations, but rising in the south in a hill-range, the highest point of which is Kippure, 2473 feet. North of this range the only prominent eminence is the Hill of Howth, 560 feet. The only river of note is the Liffey, which runs through Dublin city into Dublin Bay. The Royal and Grand Canals, starting from docks in Dublin, unite the Liffey and the Shannon. The chief rocks are carboniferous limestone, granite, of great beauty and value, and some metamorphic rocks and greenstones. There are copper and lead mines near the Scalp. Granite and limestone are much used in building. There are many mineral springs, the most important of which—resembling that of Harrogate—is at Lucan. The climate is mild. The soil is generally a calcareous gravelly clay. In the north and west are grazing and meadow farms, and around Dublin city, villas, dairy-farms, and nursery-gardens. Dublin is the best cultivated county in Ireland, though only about 76,000 acres, just one-third, are usually in crop. Along the coast there are important fisheries of herrings, turbot, brill, sole, plaice, cod, haddock, whiting, and oysters. The manufactures are few and unimportant, save at Balbriggan, which is famed for its hosiery. Dublin is divided into nine baronies, with two parliamentary and nineteen electoral divisions. The towns with a population of more than 10,000 are Dublin (q.v.), with its suburbs of Ratlimines (27,706), Pembroke (24,629), and Kingstown (q.v.). Pop. (1841) 372,775; (1861) 410,252; (1881) 418,910; (1891) 419,111, of whom 76 per cent. are Catholics. There are 60,000 pupils attending the National schools. The county sends eight members to parliament—two for Dublin county, four for Dublin city, and two for Dublin University.